26.21A.230 - Duties of support enforcement agency.

Duties of support enforcement agency.

(1) A support enforcement agency of this state, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.

     (2) A support enforcement agency of this state that is providing services to the petitioner shall:

     (a) Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal in this state or another state to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;

     (b) Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;

     (c) Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;

     (d) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;

     (e) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and

     (f) Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.

     (3) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration of a child support order in this state for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts:

     (a) To ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or

     (b) If two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.

     (4) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under applicable official exchange rates as publicly reported.

     (5) A support enforcement agency of this state shall issue or request a tribunal of this state to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears, and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to RCW 26.21A.290.

     (6) This chapter does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

[2002 c 198 § 307.]

Notes: Effective date -- 2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.